'HE IS NOT A SACRED COW': Trillanes to Calida

Manila, Philippines – Opposition senator Antonio Trillanes
IV slams solicitor general Jose Calida’s plea before the Supreme Court on
Friday, to prevent the Senate from probing the government contracts bagged by
the firm owned by Calida’s family.

Trillanes, one of Duterte admin’s staunched critics said that
the SolGen is not immune from any Legislative inquiry.

"Let me remind Mr. Calida that he is not a sacred cow.
He does not have any immunity from any legislative inquiry. Thus, his petition
for TRO has no legal basis," the senator said in a statement

"Mark me, no matter where he hides, Mr. Calida's
corrupt practices will soon be exposed. Tuloy ang imbestigasyon!" he
added.

In his petition,Calida accused Trillanes of severe abuse of
discretion in setting a public hearing and summoning them over the issue.

“in the absence of a resolution by the Senate or any of its
committees approving the proposed resolution directing the conduct of an
inquiry in aid of legislation.” The petition reads.

The solicitor general also questions the jurisdiction of the
Senate Committee on Civil Service, Government Reorganization and Professional
Regulation – chaired by Trillanes, to conduct investigation of specific
conflicts of interests of certain individual in the government.*

Calida said that jurisdiction over their case should be
under the Blue Ribbon Committee, chaired by Richard Gordon.

According to a report from ABS CBN News, documents were
earlier revealed showing the security firm owned by Calida’s wife Milagros got
multimillion-peso contract with at least 3 government agencies, only months
after his appointment as government’s chief lawyer in 2016.

Calida’s family security agency named Vigilant Investigative
and Security Agency Inc. (VISAI) signed two contracts allegedly worth of nearly
P40 millionwith
the National Parks Development Committee, a P2.8 million contract with the
National Anti-Poverty Commission, and a P6.8 million contract with the National
Economic and Development Authority from 2016 to 2018.

Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano, another opposition lawmaker, said
that Calida’s VISAI earns at least P150 million in different government
agencies, which reportedly includes the Department of Justice (DOJ).

"This alone, implicates him in violation of the
government’s Code of Conduct. Add the fact that Calida’s company was able to
secure 10 government contracts right after he became Solicitor General. Even
the long-time security agency in the House of Representatives, Lockheed, was
kicked out at the onset of the 17th Congress and replaced by that of Calida's.
Clearly, there is cause for suspicion over these dealings," Alejano said
in a statement.